Thread moistener for hose or stocking knitting machines



Nov. 19, 1929.

R. E. YORK THREAD MOISTENER FOR HOSE OR STOCKING KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 10, 1927 ,ZoZerZEE-Jp Mm ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 19, 1929 ROBERT E. YORK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA THREAD MoisTENER FOZR HOSE R STOCKING KNITTIENG MACHINES Application filed September 10, 1927; Serial No. 218,718.

It is well known that the best hosiery is produced from'wet silk thread, and farthermore the thread is usually gummed, in order to insure a tight weave, and as a rule there are at least-nine or ten tanks employed in connection with machines with at least two moisteners to each tank, to insure the proper preparation of the thread (gummed silk).

Most of the moisteners now in use fail to give the best results, due to the fact that the moisture is not forced or pressed into the thread, in fact too much of the moisture is wiped off, and furthermore such moisteners, and particularly the wipers thereof bite too tight upon the thread and cause it to break,

and thereby produce what is known as unclear or schaz, work.

It is, there ore,-the purpose of the present invention to provide, in a moistener, means for so preparing the thread as to press or force the moisture into the thread and at the same time remove just suflicient of the excessmoisture as to insure not breaking the thread and avoiding unclear and schaz'y work,

and .also producing hosiery of a relatively tight weave. Y

Another purpose is to provide a moistener, wherein means is afforded for removing lumpy parts of the gum on the thread at the same time the moisture is forced or pressed into the thread, thereby enabling the thread to pass through the knitting machine more evenly, and hence avoiding retardation of the thread through the machine.

Still another purpose is theprovision of a moistener which may be readily siippo'r'ted on the tank, in such wise as 'to permit the thread to pass down through the moisture and subsequently passing through opposed flannel pieces, which press the moisture into the thread and remove the lumpy gummed material, and hence permitting heater and more evenly knitted hose tobe produced, such a moistener also enables the tension of the thread to be regulated.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limiti've, and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions may be made in the construction of the invention according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1is a plan view of a pair of tanks, showing moisteners as supported thereon.

Figure 2is a sectional View on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3is a sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2. v

Referring to the drawings, 1 identifies a tank, of which there may be any number, preferably nine or ten for each machine. The tanks maybe of any size or shape and constructed of any suitable metal.

Operatively associated with the tanks is a plurality of moisteners 2, and each comprises a plate 3 having side flanges 4, be-

tween which and on the plate a pair of flannel pieces 5 and 6 is'supported. The side flanges 4 act to guide the moisture back into the tank 1, that'is if the flannel pieces become saturated sufficiently; The bottom flannel piece is held in position by headed pins 7, which are fastened to the plate 3 by the nuts 8. In

fact the supporting plate for the flannel pieces is in the formof a trough, the side flanges 4 also acting to hold the flannel pieces in register.

The plate 3 at its upper outer end terminates in lugs 9 and an ear 10. The lugs 9 extend in a down-ward direction and act to engage with a support 11, to assist in supporting the 'moistener in proper position, there being an angle plate 12 secured to the plate 3, for engagement with the side of the tank to further assist in holding the moistener in place.

The ear 10 extends in an upward direction and has an opening 13 which is-lined with a suitable eye or bushing 14 of any suitable 'material, preferably porcelain, since it is possible to construct such an eye or bushing relatively smooth on its inner surface, so as to permit the silk thread to pass freely therethrough. This bushing is positioned so that as the thread leaves" from between the flannel pieces 5 and 6, it may enter and pass through the bushing easily, and then on to the knitting machine (not shown).

Each tank is adapted to be filled with the requisite amount of moisture, such as water, and depending from the plate 3 angularly thereof is a downturned end 15, which terminates in an extension 16. The downturned end extends far enough into the tank, so as to carry the thread through a substantial portion of the moisture, the thread in passing from its source of supply (not shown) erates over a glass guide 17 which may be supported in any well known manner, not shown. The extension 16 is positioned on an acute angle relative to the downturned end, in other words it assumes an upwardly extending inclined position, and has an opening 18 which carries a bushing or eye 19, preferably constructed of porcelain so as to provide a smooth surface and thereby permit the thread to move freely in passing through the moisture in the tank.

A thread guide 20 is riveted at 21 to the downturned end 15 and has an opening 22, which is also provided with a bushing 23 of porcelain in order to afford a free unobstructed passage for the silk thread.

In the operation of the moistener it is obvious that the silk thread in leaving its source of supply enters the tank, sufiiciently below the level of the moisture therein, and then passes through the porcelain eye 1.9, and then upwardly through the porcelain eye or bushing 23, and then between the two flannel 1 pieces 5 and 6, and then out through the eye 14, the silk thread then passing on to the knitting machine (not shown).

The gummed silk thread after being moistened, the gummed particles thereon are removed by passage between the flannel pieces, and the moisture is forced or pressed into the thread and the excess moisture removed, the excess moisture tending to saturate the flannel pieces, and as the flannel pieces become soaked with the moisture, the greater portion feeds back into the tank, while the other portion thereof evaporates.

By this manner of treating the gummed silk thread it is possible to produce a neater and more evenly knitted hose, and furthermore the thread in passing to and through the knitting machine, its tension may be better regulated, due to the particular way of moistening the silk thread. Also, as previously stated, this method of moistening thread avoids schazy and unclear work in the production of hosiery, the weave of the hosiery being relatively tight.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. A silk thread moistener comprising a body with longitudinal side flanges, means for supporting the body in an operative slightly upwardly inclined lateral position on a moistening tank, whereby excess moisture may feed back into the tank the body having a depending partextending into the moisture in the tank and having guide eyes for the silk thread, and a pair of absorbent pieces mounted on the body, and through which the silk thread passes.

2. In a moistener for knitting machines, the combination with a trough-like body slightly inclined upwardly and laterally from the tank and provided with a depending part entering moisture in a tank and provided with guides for the silk thread, said depending part carrying excess moisture back into the tank and a pair of absorbent members with opposed pressing surfaces and between which the thread passes, for pressing or forcing the moisture into the thread.

3. In a moistener for knitting machines, the combination with a trough-like body slightly inclined upwardly and laterally from the tank to direct excess moisture back into the tank, said body provided with a depending part entering moisture in a tank and provided with guides for the silk thread, said depending part carrying excess moisture back into the tank and a pair of absorbent members with opposed pressing surfaces and between which the thread passes, for pressing or forcing the moisture into the thread, and means for securing the absorbent members in the trough-like body.

4. A silk thread moistener for knitting machines, comprising a trough-like body slightly inclined upwardly and laterally from the tank, whereby excess moisture may be directed back into the tank, said body having a depending part with thread guides extending into moisture in a tank, said depending part insuring carrying excess moisture back into the tank, a pair of face to face absorbent members supported in the trough-like body, and between which the thread passes, and a thread guide at the other end of the body.

5. In a silk thread moistener for knitting machines, the combination with an absorbent holder for support on a moisture containing tank, said holder being inclined upwardly and laterally for directing the excess moisture back into the tank, of means on the holder and depending into the moisture in the tank for guiding the thread thereinto and therefrom, said depending means insuring conducting the moisture back into the tank and a pair of absorbent members face to face on the holder and between which the thread passes causing the moisture to be pressed or forced into the thread.

6. In a silk thread moistener for knitting machines, the combination with an absorbent holder for support on a moisture containing tank, said holder being inclined upwardly and laterally for directing the moisture back into the tank, of means on the holder and depending into the moisture in the tank for guiding the thread thereinto and therefrom,

said depending means insuring conducting the moisture back into the tank and a pair of absorbent members face to face on the holder and between which the thread passes causing the moisture to be pressed or forced into the thread, and guiding means on the holder for guiding the thread to the knitting machine after leaving the absorbent members.

7. As an article of manufacture, a silk thread moistener for knitting machines comprising a holder having means depending into a moisture containing tank for retaining the thread dipped into the moisture, said holder being inclined upwardly and laterally for directing the moisture back into the tank, said depending means insuring conducting the moisture back into the tank, and a pair of absorbent members face to face mounted on the holder, and between Which faces the silk thread passes, allowing the moisture to be pressed or forced into the thread and the excess moisture removed.

8. In a moistener for knitting machines, a trough-like body having an extension projecting from one end of the bottom of the body, a pair of absorbent members with opposed pressing surfaces between which the thread passes, for pressing or forcing the moisture into the thread, means associated with a moisture containing tank for supporting the body with the extension of the bottom depending into the moisture in the tank and the body inclined upwardly and laterally, whereby excess moisture may be directed hack into the tank along the extension, and thread guiding means on the extension and the body to guide the thread into the moisture and between the absorbent members and to a knitting machine.

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signature hereto.

ROBERT E. YORK. 

